The origin of the exotic cat breed, care and breeding

Today, one of the most popular cat breeds is an exotic cat. This breed has won the hearts of pet lovers thanks to its friendliness and touching appearance - huge eyes, pretty face and beautiful color. It is worth noting that caring for a cat of this breed is not so simple, and here some features should be taken into account.

The breed of exotic cats was bred in the United States in the early 60s of the last century. Exotic cats appeared as a result of crossing two breeds - Persian and American Shorthair cats. That is, this breed was artificially bred.

The goal of the American breeders experiment was to improve the color of a standard shorthair cat. To put it mildly, the result of the crossing experiment turned out to be extremely unexpected and unforeseen. The kittens bred as a result of crossbreeding turned out to be very cute and charming - with plush hair, wide eyes and large volumes of the body.

The official date of birth of the Exot breed is 1966. Although initially the scientists gave the name "sterling", which later did not take root, the breed was called exotic. And indeed, for the Americans, this breed was something extremely exotic and new.

Then another event occurred that brought the breed closer to the species that we are used to seeing today.And this interesting event happened in 1973, when, as a result of a series of subsequent experiments, a characteristic feature of exotics appeared that conquered many - a snub-nosed muzzle. This funny trait made the breed even more touching. This attempt to cross did not stop, and only by the 90s standards were set for requirements for the breed of exotic cats. After this, this type of cat was forbidden to cross with other breeds.

Even in the official standards for the requirements for the breed of exotics, all of them practically coincide with the requirements for the breed of Persian cats. However, the main difference is the coat. Exotics are distinguished by their "plush", because their hair can reach up to two centimeters in length, and there is also a fairly thick undercoat. These beautiful cats have full cheeks, a short and strong neck and that very unusual nose. This kind of nose, as in exotics, is called "nose with a stop." Most lovers of home fluffy pet exotics were able to subdue it with their expressive big eyes.

This breed of cats is characterized by short, but very developed and strong paws. In general, the body of exotics is quite strong and stocky, despite the cute plushness.

According to the accepted standards established when displaying data cats, There are several basic rules regarding their appearance.

For example, the head of an exotic cat should have a rounded shape with prominent cheeks. A mandatory parameter is a snub nose. Eye color can be very different. It usually depends on the coat color of the cat. It is worth noting that sometimes there are exotics with eyes of different colors. It happens that one eye may be yellow and the other blue.

This is only a small anomaly arising from the abundance of a certain coloring segment of the eye. This phenomenon is not reflected in the cat's eyesight.. But the appearance of an already cute exotica cat becomes even more attractive.

Recently, on the Internet, photos and videos of cats with heterochromia have gained particular popularity, despite the fact that ordinary cats have been Internet leaders for a long time. Therefore, do not worry if the kitten has a different eye color. Do not urgently take him to the veterinarian, and even more so try to carry out an independent "treatment". There is nothing to treat in this case.

Wool and color. About wool said a little higher. Beautiful, plush wool is one of the main differences of exotics. Usually it does not reach such a length that it lies on the body, although the hair of exotics is longer than that of ordinary cats. The color of the coat can be completely different. There are very dark exotics and light ones. Many people combine several colors on their wool, which are distributed by spots of different sizes.

It is also worth distinguishing between short-haired and long-haired exotics. The hair of the short-haired representatives, as the name implies, is rather short, but very thick. And long-haired cats of exotism have long hair, and with it a negative aspect that many owners dislike so much - the hair of cats remains everywhere.

The body size of exotics can reach up to 30 cm at the withers. The standard indicator is 25-27 cm.

As well as exotics from other breeds, their tail is distinguished. It is short, usually shorter than the body of the cat, but rather fluffy and rounded at the end.

The weight of males of this breed can reach up to 7 kg, and females up to 4.5.

From the Persian cat, exotics were able to inherit one of its main features, in addition to appearance - habits.

Exotics are extremely gentle and affectionate. It is unlikely that among such independent animals as cats, one can find someone more obedient and affectionate than an exotic cat.

Representatives of this breed are extremely quiet animals.They give voice in very rare cases, and even then very quietly. Therefore, the future owner of such a cat should not worry that at night they will be awakened by a loud meow in the ear.

Many owners of exotics note that this breed is extremely friendly to young children. A big plus if the family has a child. Exotics will never scratch and bite him, they will play and learn the world together.

Exotic cats are absolutely unobtrusive, but extremely loyal. The cat can patiently wait for its owner, while he is busy with business, sit quietly, do not demand affection or refreshments, that is, do not attract attention. But once the owner calls his pet, he will immediately come running and jump onto his lap, rejoicing that the owner was finally able to give him time. In this regard, exotics are extremely understanding animals.

It is rare when an exotic gets into a fight with another cat or other animal. They have practically no desire to hunt mice or birds. We can say that this is a 100% domesticated cat.

Cats of this breed endure separation with the owner extremely sharply. They really yearn, they lose their appetite and motor activity decreases. In principle, they are able to quite endure travels, so you can take exotics with you if you need to leave for a long time.

Exotics are really socially active cats. They just need to be with a person all the time. They are very fond of games, but even just sitting next to a person they are very pleased.

It is worth noting that this breed lends itself quite well to training and training.

Of course, the main factor that affects the life expectancy of any pet is the conditions of detention. It is necessary to bring a cat to the veterinarian from time to time, monitor how he eats, pay attention to behavior, periodically walk with him. Under normal conditions, exotics live on average 15-16 years. Some individuals can live up to 20 years.

Speaking about cats of the Exot breed, it would be wrong to say that these cats are all alike alike. They have their own varieties. That is, cats of the same breed may vary, but nevertheless will have similar external features. So, for starters, it is worth highlighting the long-haired and short-haired cat of the Exot breed. About them has been said above. The main difference is the length of their coat. Long-haired representatives are more fluffy, have a long coat of more than 2 cm. A short-haired cat has a high density of coat, but the length of its coat does not exceed two centimeters.

The rest of the cats of this breed vary in color. It is worth noting the most common shades.

• Blue. Very beautiful color of wool, giving off gray-blue shades. In Russia, there is even a similar breed with the same shade - Russian blue.

• The black. In this case, the cat's coat is bright black, with virtually no other shades. Less common is the transition from black to dark gray.

• Tortoiseshell. Many are interested in exactly how the tortoise color looks. Actually, he has no concrete shade. Tortoise is called a coat color, which combines several colors at once. For example, white, gray and red. All together they will be called "tortoise".

• White. This shade of wool is extremely beautiful. Pure white wool rarely has any other shades. White is a very relaxing color, so a pet with such a fur will have an even greater relaxing effect.

• Marble. This coat color usually combines two shades. Most often it is black and gray.

• Red tabby. Sometimes mistakenly called simply "red".But their difference is that this color is the brightest on the back, and on the stomach and limbs it becomes very faded. But the cats of the exotica of exactly the red color usually have a delicate cream shade. That is, such a red color, softly expressed.

The appearance of any domestic cat needs to be closely monitored. Caring for Exot cats has its own characteristics.

If we talk about bathing a cat, then it is advisable to wash exotics once every 3-4 months. Of course, this depends on the degree of contamination of the wool, so if necessary, you can swim more often. This is usually recommended when it begins to molt. Departed wool must be washed off, otherwise the old wool will remain on the cat. This is fraught with both the ugly appearance of the animal, and the fact that the wool will remain on the furniture, floor and in other places.

It’s better to redeem the exotics once again than to solve problems with its coat and clean up the house all the time. Do not forget that most cats perceive water extremely negatively and especially water procedures. For a cat who is afraid of water, swimming can be a real test and stress.

The procedure itself bathing exotics should take place in a certain way.

Do not forget that the hair of an exotic is extremely dense, and sometimes the shampoo used is simply not able to penetrate deep into, washing only the upper part of the wool. Many people recommend that before the bathing procedure, a little soaping the cat with a degreasing dishwashing liquid. This will not cause six cats any harm, but the product will degrease the surface of the coat, so that the shampoo can penetrate deep into the coat. After applying a degreasing agent, it must be thoroughly washed off, and then proceed to the basic bathing procedure.

It is especially worthwhile to wash those places that are most often susceptible to pollution - paws, tail and chin. After washing off the shampoo, you can also use a conditioner to rinse. Additionally, you can use special products from skin pests and parasites. In dense wool there is a chance of their occurrence. Not to say that exotics are often prone to such a problem, but it is advisable to use such agents for prevention.

When the bathing process itself is completed, and the owner and cat breathed a sigh of relief, it is necessary to start drying the wool. This moment also has its own characteristics. Attempts to dry the cat’s hair with an ordinary towel is a lengthy procedure, and not very effective. Here, the density and density of the wool play a role. Therefore, you can use a regular hair dryer. With such a device, the process will noticeably accelerate and be more efficient.

Experienced owners of exotics after drying sometimes use grooming powder. Consider what it is and why it is needed.

Grooming powder - a special cleaning agent that can eliminate pollution without the use of water. This is a very convenient way when it is necessary to remove any contamination in a specific area of ​​the coat, because for the sake of one spot it is not very advisable to completely wash the cat. Nevertheless, grooming powder can be used as an additional tool after bathing. It completely removes residual moisture, and the hair from it becomes more silky and bright.

Apply this tool against animal fur. Worth watching so that the product does not get into the ears, eyes and mouth of the cat. Actually, when bathing with shampoo, this should also be avoided. The eyes of exotics are large, so the likelihood of getting detergents is great. Today, pet stores have shampoos and products that do not irritate the eyes.

After applying the powder, it is necessary to carefully comb out the wool according to its growth. And just combing wool is the next step in the care, which will be considered here.

As regards combing exotics, one funny fact is worth noting here - many people jokingly call the seals of this breed “Persian for the lazy”. And all because he, although it looks like a Persian cat in many ways, did not take over from him problems with wool that required careful attention. Short-haired exotics leave their hair only if they begin to molt, and even then it is not so much. Nevertheless, combing the hair is an important aspect in caring for the cat.

Shorthair exotica can be combed 1-2 times a week with a regular comb. You can use a massage brush a little more often. With a long-haired breed, the combing procedure should be carried out more often. Actually, combing exotica wool is nothing complicated and unusual. Standard care kit - scallop, massage brush. You can also use a shutter, but it is better to use it only when the cat is molting. This tool does a good job of removing falling wool.

Big eyes of exotics also require their attention from the owner of the pet. It is necessary to periodically carry out preventive procedures, maintaining hygiene of not only the exotic eye, but also the oral cavity, auricles, as well as carry out cosmetic procedures to trim the claws and remove stiff hair.

The eyes of exotics are not only their most beautiful feature, but also the most vulnerable organ susceptible to infections, fungi and bacteria. Specialists and veterinarians recommend that preventive procedures be performed a couple of times a month. This also applies to the prevention of the auricles. For many owners, the problem of prevention is the "fixation" of the animal. No animal will like it when its eyes or ears are unclear why it is rubbed, and even sometimes it drips all sorts of “muck” there. But the procedure is necessary for his own good. Therefore, it is worth fixing the position of the cat under the arm, but carefully, trying not to press hard.

Eyes can be dabbed with a napkin soaked in plain boiled water. In more serious cases, various ointments, drops, sometimes containing antibiotics, are used. An important note about antibiotics - in no case should they be used if the cat is healthy.

Another important aspect in the care of exotic eyes - they do not need to be rubbed. It only irritates the eyes of the animal. They need to be blotted out precisely - accurately and without sharp movements. With eye prophylaxis, it is recommended to wipe the exot nose in addition. Harmful substances often accumulate on the mucous membranes, which can develop into more serious diseases.

Regarding the care of the auricles, it is worth noting that this is also a common problem of exotics. If you do not take away the natural ear discharge for a long time, then dust accumulates on them, which is also fraught with the appearance of various parasites, fungi and even ear mites. Ear care can be done with a regular cotton swab, removing the discharge. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the hearing organs.

Additionally, you can use acaricidal ear drops, which just prevent the appearance of ear mites.

In addition to previous procedures for the prevention of feline friend's diseases, another extremely important part of the care is clipping. The procedure is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. For the cat itself, claw trimming is rather unpleasant, but it’s worthwhile to tame it with a kitten. Pet clippers are sold at pet stores or veterinary pharmacies.Ordinary scissors cut claws is highly not recommended. In the claws of cats there are bloody veins, according to which it is strictly forbidden to cut:

• the animal is just wildly hurt, since they have great sensitivity in this place;
• clipping claws in this way, there is a risk of infections, improper claw growth, and so on.

Therefore, you need to use strictly clippers. They resemble tweezers, which need to cut only the very tip of the claw. By the way, it is worth noting that exotics are especially unusual for the release of claws and the desire to scratch a person. They are so friendly that they are practically incapable of manifesting aggression. Nevertheless, the cat needs to carry out “manicure”, especially if the pet is used to tearing wallpaper or furniture. In this case, you can not do without buying a claw point, but clipping claws is also necessary.

Few people pay attention to another aspect inherent in some exotics - stiff outer hair. Some cats from their beautiful, plush wool sometimes show long, coarse hair. This periodically occurs in animals obtained by crossing. Such hairs are clearly visible. Usually they are longer than the rest of the coat and are distinguished by color. Such hairs can be removed by ordinary plucking with tweezers. After removal of such hairs, the cat’s coat will be beautiful and clean.

Caring for the oral cavity of a furry pet is also required. In order to completely eliminate problems with teeth in the cat, it is recommended to carry out prophylaxis 1-2 times every two weeks. Many will be skeptical or ironic about this point. However, cats also brush their teeth. In our country, it is somehow not customary to pay attention to animal oral hygiene, but nevertheless their teeth can also hurt. They can’t just tell us about it and are forced to simply endure pain.

In the same veterinary pharmacies and pet stores there are special brushes for brushing your teeth and tooth powders. At first, you can brush your pet’s teeth just with a brush dipped in warm water. With stronger teeth, you can use already dental powders. Of course, this procedure is extremely extreme for a pet, so it will most likely twist and scratch. The cat needs to be fixed, and on the eve to carry out the claw trimming procedure.

To equip the life of a pet and to care for it, you need to purchase several things. To begin with, what is absolutely necessary for any pet in the first place is the toilet. A tray with a filler is the first thing that should already be in the house when a new furry resident appears. For exotics, experts recommend using wood filler from pressed sawdust. Exotics do not like clumping fillers.

Claws for exotics are also necessary, otherwise the furniture and walls in the house may be damaged.

If the space of the living room allows, then you can find large structures that are a whole attraction for cats. On them there are several tiers, toys on the ropes, and they themselves are covered with cords, about which the pet can sharpen its claws.

And also for spending more fun leisure time, you can buy your pet various toys, the choice of which in pet stores is very wide today. Laser pointers are popular - exotics love to run after a bright spark. The main thing is not to point at the big sensitive eyes of the pet or at the curtains, glass utensils and other valuables.

These were the main points to consider when caring for a cat. This does not mean that this is all you need to know. It is recommended to pay attention to the nutrition of the cat, and its medical examinations by a specialist.

Oddly enough, but what is exotic and unpretentious, so it is in food. Of course, giving anything horrible, as well as feeding exclusively dry cat food should not be. You can give exotics dietary meat, for example, beef. Such meat contains taurine, which will have a very positive effect on the pet's cardiovascular system. Great popularity when feeding exotics acquired offal that is poured with boiling water.

Exotics, like all other cats, are very fond of fish. It is advisable not to give the cat river fish, as it often has parasites. And it is also advisable to first remove the scales and bones from the future treats, so that the exotic does not hurt his mouth or stomach.

The main thing is that the diet is not meager. You can additionally give the cat low-fat sour cream or other dairy products once a week. This will replenish the stock of exot proteins. It is not recommended to feed the pet day after day with the same. This affects the saturation of the body with the necessary substances and vitamins, and the digestive system of the pet. As already mentioned, exotics are picky in terms of food.

Many experienced owners say that you need to feed the cat with what you eat yourself. In principle, the statement is more correct.

A very important issue that needs a lot of attention is breeding cats. It’s one thing to take care of one pet. Another is to sell kittens and breed them. This is a very difficult matter, as it may seem to those who hope to engage in breeding cats in order to obtain easy money.

For irresponsible people this lesson is not suitable. This thing needs to be done with full dedication, love your pets and give them a lot of time. First, we list the main points necessary for the correct breeding of exotic cats:

1. the choice of a cat and a partner for her;
2. expectation of the mating season;
3. knitting;
4. caring for a pregnant cat;
5. birth of a cat;
6. care for a cat and newborn kittens;
7. the correct education of kittens for further sale.

Now we will analyze these items in more detail.

A cat for further breeding of kittens should be purebred, have a beautiful color and good health. When choosing a partner, it is necessary to consider what color and physical parameters the kittens had from him.

Both the cat and the male should be strictly given all vaccinations and vaccinations, which must be carried out annually. The complete absence of health problems, beautiful coat and friendly character will be the key to good offspring in the future.

Many people think that this is not difficult: he brought a cat, a male, he waited for mating and you are waiting for kittens. But this is not so. The cat must be between 16-17 months old so that you can begin to admit it to the partner. It is believed that at this age the feline organism is ready for bearing and reproducing offspring. The mating season is a responsible process that lasts several days. Usually up to a week, or even more.

The cat itself estrus lasts about 7-8 days. It is during this period that the female will be ready for mating. Here, everything, like people have, is acquaintance, courtship. Often, females of the Exot breed can be aggressive during the breeding season, especially if they are not used to a partner. Therefore, both sides must first be reduced, to observe their reaction. Usually a cat is brought to the territory of the male. Do not wait for them to immediately rush to each other.

Initially, there will be a lot of tension between them. The cat will need to explore new territory, get acquainted with new smells, and only then proceed to get acquainted with the male. Sometimes there were even cases when cats ceased flowing in the new territory, and they were no longer ready for mating. This is due to stress and new experiences.

Although the male exot is ready to mate most of the time, this does not mean that he will immediately rush at the female to fertilize her. The male approaches this process with great care, despite the raging hormones. Usually exot goes around the cat for a long time, sniffing. Sometimes, it may not be decided to mate for reasons only known to him. The cat, when ready for the process, begins to make meowing sounds and falls on its front legs.

Even if pairing has happened, this does not mean that once is enough. It may be completely unsuccessful. Therefore, it is necessary to give the female and the male a couple of days for further mating.

At the end of the mating, it is necessary to carefully examine both animals. When mating, males have a habit of biting a cat’s neck and can sometimes damage it without calculating strength. In the presence of injuries, they should be carefully treated. With more serious consequences, you can not do without the help of a specialist veterinarian.

If all the previous points have been successfully completed, and a new couple has matured to create a feline family, then the cat's pregnancy process begins. The process is slow, requiring patience and special care, not only for the female, but also for her future offspring. The gestation period of exotics is up to 65 days, plus or minus 1-2 days. It is noted that kittens that were born between 50-58 days usually die immediately.

Therefore, it is extremely important to create a cat all the conditions necessary for the full and comfortable carrying of all kittens. How to determine the onset of pregnancy in a cat? Usually, an female exotica has an extremely low activity within 10 days after mating. Maybe even nausea. In the future, the cat may begin to behave differently than before.

The main thing is to periodically show the animal to the veterinarian, especially in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy. And also it is worth worrying about a place for future births in advance. You can use a large cardboard box for this, lining the bottom with newspapers and pieces of cloth.

The duration of the process itself can be from 2 to 6 hours. Kittens may appear at different intervals. A person should not interfere in this process. If the birth is normal, then the cat is able to cope itself. It is important to ensure that the cat does not accidentally step on the newborn kittens, as well as to stimulate their breathing. Cats do this simply by licking - they lick the kittens nose and mouth to cleanse it of mucus, and the kitten did not interfere with breathing.

For the first time after childbirth, the cat has a discharge that must always be cleaned on time, maintaining cleanliness in the place where she is used to lying. The main thing is nutrition. After delivery, it is necessary to feed a cat several times more, because its body is extremely depleted. It is also important to give her a plentiful drink.

Kittens will open their eyes about 9-10 days after birth. Immediately trying to determine their future appearance is useless. Almost all kittens have bluish eyes, and pigmentation begins with the third week of life. Soon the kittens will learn to walk, but will feed on the milk of the female for about three weeks. After this period, you can teach kittens to eat from a bowl. The diet should be replaced gradually, it is difficult for kids to switch from milk to heavy food. First you should give dairy products, then cereals. Relatively stronger kittens will be able to start giving some meat or fish.

The most common phrase in kittens ads is that they are accustomed to the tray. And this is true, because people tend to buy a kitten who already knows how to use the toilet and does not tear furniture with walls. Therefore, with the advent of initial motor activity, it is worth starting to accustom small exotics to the tray. A place for their tray must be placed nearby, because it will be difficult for small kittens to find a toilet that is in another room.

Most likely, the kitten will begin to walk into the tray and eventually become accustomed to it. Kittens need claws and toys. Already at a young age, they need to sharpen their claws, and nibble something, as their teeth are cut. Therefore, it is worth buying toys without pointed parts that could damage the kitten's mouth or get into his stomach. The toy should be simple and reliable. But you can also take kittens to a veterinarian for a prophylaxis.

Let's consider what health problems are most characteristic of exotics.

Let's start with the question that is characteristic not only of cats of the Exot breed, but also of other breeds. This is castration or sterilization. Not everyone knows how to properly care for a cat after castration, but this is a very important point regarding his future health.

At this age, he had already managed to get stronger, but the reproductive and reproductive systems were not yet fully formed. In the first days after surgery, exotism must be ensured complete rest. Perhaps at first he will need painkillers. Immediately after surgery, cats are characterized by dry eyes. The fact is that the operation is performed under anesthesia, but during anesthesia the eyes do not close, therefore they dry. You can gently pat your eyes with a damp cloth so that they recover faster, or use eye drops.

Often for exotics, a problem with sinuses is characteristic. Shortness of breath or other defects are usually associated with the structural features of their flattened nose.

It was mentioned above about the need for brushing teeth and the prevention of diseases of the oral cavity of exotics. The most common disease affecting their teeth is the formation of tartar.

Sometimes there are diseases associated with cardiovascular diseases. In this case, it is necessary to make fundamental changes in the diet of the animal.

For all cats, the kidney problem also remains relevant. In principle, this disease is also associated with dietary features. If you feed the cat with healthy and varied food, then problems can be avoided.

In any case, if you suspect that the cat is feeling unwell, you should definitely not do home treatment, but first of all, show the pet to a specialist. The vet will carefully examine the cat, if necessary, take the necessary tests, prescribe medication and give recommendations on the diet and content of the pet.In general, exotics have good health and good immunity.

So, exotic cats deservedly conquered the world and the Internet due to their cute appearance and extremely friendly character. This is an ideal pet that does not require careful care, is not picky about food and can be quickly trained. You will not get bored with him, because exotics are very fond of outdoor games with their owners, they are good for children. As a rule, they are very attached and devoted to one person, and certainly they will never forget him. The presence of such a cat adds comfort to every home.

Details on the care and maintenance of exotics at home see below.